lend me your ears and i'll sing you a song, and i'll try not to sing out of key... oh i get by with a little help from my friends

This is the last weekend before chemo starts, and I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. I have so many people in my life who have reached out. Facebook messages, emails, cards, hugs, prayers, thoughtful gifts, good vibes, books, survival stories, playlist suggestions... the list is long.

My friend, Andrea, sent me this verse:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine;

When you pass through waters, I will be with you;

and through rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flames shall not consume you . . .

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored and I love you.

-Isaiah 43:1,2 &4

I felt such a sense of calm rush over me as I read those words. Like something leaving my body...

So, this weekend I had planned to deep clean my house. From top to bottom, because I had no idea when I would feel up to doing something like that again. I did a preemptive strike last weekend starting with reorganizing my bathroom, dresser, and closet. I say reorganizing, because I think at one point they were in order?

I gathered all of my winter clothes, and switched them with the summer clothes in the guest closet. I picked all my shoes from off of the floor, and hung them on the rack and out of the way (not sure why I don't always do this...?) I carefully organized all of my hair ties, clips, bobby pins, and other hair paraphernalia into a concise bin, which I think I will be successful in maintaining mainly because I have no clue when my hair will be long enough again to use these things! All of this was step one to get ready for "the big clean". 

This Thursday, Connor and I went for a walk around the neighborhood to our nearby park. We are starting a walking/exercise regimen because we have been told by Dr. O, and have read that exercise has been proven to improve survivor rates by 50%. 50% y'all. That is incredible. Thursday was night one. I am ON A MISSION. No laying around for me! Hold me accountable! Seriously! Help!?

When we got home, there was a quick double ring at the doorbell. I went to investigate, but no one was there... I looked on the ground, and saw a note on top of a feather duster. What the? I looked out at the yard and street and no one was to be found, except for a suspicious Ford Escape fleeing the scene. Hmm.

I picked up the note and opened it. Y'all. It was the Corgan Interiors fairy. My incredible team at work has paid for a maid to come and clean our house while I am at my chemo treatments this summer. I can't even tell you what an awesome gift this is. "The gift of clean" is what the fairy calls it. "Happy tears" is what I call it.

my work crew. at the end of our 75th year as a firm. awesome, awesome people.

I started working at Corgan in 2006, and this has been my one and only job since graduation. Seven (and a half) years later, and I can't imagine being anywhere else. I am beyond blessed. I hope that all of you are as fortunate as I am - to work with such kind, selfless, giving people.

Alright y'all. Chemo starts Tuesday. Start your countdowns for my second major haircut of the summer. :)

Love y'all,
Jess

Edit: Our next door neighbor just dropped off guacamole. Heaven, y'all.